Legal Counsel

Atos is the Atos Group brand dedicated to AI-powered, secure, end-to-end digital services. Atos designs, develops, and operates critical digital environments that drive performance, resilience and sovereignty, helping public and private organizations worldwide retain control over their data and infrastructures, while meeting regulatory requirements.

With more than 52,000 employees serving over 4,500 clients across 54 countries, Atos helps modernize core IT systems, accelerate cloud and data transformation, strengthen cybersecurity, and deliver secure digital workplace environments to support its clients, its employees and society. Atos also provides consulting and advisory services through its Atos Amplify brand.
A trusted partner in operating complex and mission-critical environments, Atos supports organizations across highly regulated and sovereign contexts.

About Atos Group

Atos Group is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 54,000 employees and annual revenue of c. €7.2 billion, operating in 54 countries under two brands - Atos for services and Eviden for products and systems. European number one in cybersecurity and a leader in cloud, Atos Group is committed to a secure and decarbonized future and provides tailored AI-powered, end-to-end solutions for all industries. Atos Group is listed on Euronext Paris.

We, Atos UK&I, are looking for a highly qualified Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Disputes and Litigation with approximately 5–10 years of post-qualified experience to support and manage complex commercial disputes, mediations and litigation matters across the UK and Ireland business.

The Senior Legal Counsel will be an active participant in the day-to-day legal operations of the UK&I Legal department, with a primary focus on bringing commercial disputes and litigation matters to a close quickly, efficiently and in a well-structured manner. The right candidate should preferably be a qualified legal counsel with demonstrable experience in handling complex legal disputes, ideally gained in a top-tier commercial law firm, barristers’ chambers environment and/or an in-house legal function within IT, technology services or a comparable industry.

The role requires strong litigation management skills, sound commercial judgement, excellent stakeholder management capabilities and the ability to work closely with external law firms, barristers, counsel, internal business stakeholders, the Group Litigation department and the Regional General Counsel. The successful candidate will also be expected to support broader commercial legal matters, including contract review, drafting, negotiations and bid team support, when required.

Your day-to-day responsibilities include:

- Manage and coordinate a portfolio of complex commercial disputes, mediations and litigation matters across the UK&I business.

- Drive disputes and litigation matters towards efficient, commercially sensible and timely resolution.

- Develop and implement clear case strategies, including risk assessments, settlement strategies and escalation plans.

- Work closely with external law firms, barristers and counsel to ensure effective legal support, strong strategic input and disciplined cost management.

- Anticipate and monitor legal costs, obtain fee estimates, challenge external legal spend where appropriate and ensure careful budget control.

- Run RFP processes for external legal support, including benchmarking of fee proposals and assessment of the most appropriate external counsel for each matter.

- Prepare and obtain internal approvals for litigation, settlements, external counsel engagement and related legal spend in accordance with applicable internal processes.

- Maintain well-structured matter files, case plans, reporting and governance for all disputes and litigation matters.

- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of disputes and litigation matters within the global litigation and disputes management tool, Dilitrust.

- Liaise closely with the Group Litigation department, the Regional General Counsel and relevant senior stakeholders on key disputes, material risks and strategic litigation decisions.

- Advise and work directly with C-level and senior management stakeholders on disputes, litigation risks and commercial resolution options.

- Support the business in negotiations, dispute avoidance, escalation management and settlement discussions.

- Support the wider UK&I Legal department on regular commercial matters, including contract review, drafting, negotiations and bid team support.

- Participate in UK&I Legal and Group Legal Department activities and projects as required.

In short, you will become part of a diverse, hardworking, energetic and truly international team of lawyers working for Atos within the UK and Ireland specifically, and Atos globally in general.

Practical information

The UK&I Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Disputes and Litigation will be part of the UK&I Legal department and will work closely with the Regional General Counsel, the Group Litigation department and relevant business stakeholders. The position is primarily based in the UK, with expected presence at Atos offices as required. Limited travel activity may be expected.

Atos has a hybrid working model with a mix of in-office and work-from-home arrangements, and we have a high degree of flexibility in our way of working to allow for a good work/life balance. Our working language is English.

Key skills and experience

To be successful in this role, you’ll need a strong combination of experience, knowledge, proven skills and personal attributes, including:

- Approximately 5–10 years of post-qualified experience, preferably with significant experience in commercial disputes, mediations and litigation.

- Qualification as a solicitor, barrister or equivalent legal professional in the UK or another relevant jurisdiction.

- Demonstrable experience managing complex commercial disputes and litigation matters from early case assessment through to resolution.

- Strong skills in and experience with AI, especially Legal AI tools and legal tech.

- Strong experience working with external law firms, barristers and counsel, with the ability to instruct, challenge and manage external advisors effectively.

- Proven ability to anticipate, manage and control legal costs, including obtaining fee estimates, handling budgets and supporting RFP processes for external legal support.

- Experience preparing litigation approvals, settlement recommendations, risk assessments and management reporting.

- Strong understanding of litigation strategy, dispute resolution, mediation, settlement negotiations and commercial risk management.

- Ability to operate as an independent legal advisor at a senior level and to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships internally and externally.

- Ability to work confidently with C-level stakeholders and senior business leaders.

- Excellent judgement, analytical skills and ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.

- Strong organisational skills and ability to keep disputes and litigation matters well managed, structured and properly reported.

- Experience using legal matter management or litigation reporting tools; experience with Dilitrust or similar platforms would be an advantage.

- Ability to support broader commercial legal work, including contract review, drafting, negotiations and bid team support.

- Previous experience in the IT, technology services, outsourcing, consulting or comparable industry would be an advantage.

- High degree of professional ethics, integrity and accountability.

- Excellent interpersonal, communication and cooperation skills.

- Strong team spirit, flexibility, motivation and proactivity in solving issues.

- International experience or experience working in a matrix organisation would be an advantage.

At Atos, we want everyone to feel confident and supported throughout the recruitment process. As a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant (EDAC) and Care Leaver Covenant, we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and life experiences.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will ensure the appropriate support is in place. Please contact the recruiter managing this vacancy or reach out to our dedicated mailbox: [email protected]

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